Coin selector fob vending machines



Dec. 19, 1939. B, w- FRY E1- AL Re. 21,301

COIN SELECTOR FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed May l5. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 16 17 :s 39 [/17 L16 Il ,ai A a 7 19 43 do Dec. 1 9, 1939. B. w. FRY r Al.

-coIN sELEcToR'F'oR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed May 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Reissued Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED VSTATES PATENT OFFICE l W. Fry, Uni

p nimm versity our. and Jann Gottfried, St. Louis, Mo., anlgnors to National Slug Injectors, Inc., Si. Louis, M0., l 0011303" tion of Missouri 6 Claims. (Cl. 194-101) Our invention relates to a coin selector for vending machines, and has for its primary object to provide a device whereby only genuine coins will be admitted to the vending mechanism of such a machine for the operation thereof. It has been our experience with coin-operated vending machines generally that slugs made of metals other than that employed in genuine coins, but of the same size and shape, will be used to fraudulently operate the vending mechanism. It has also been our experience that at times a slug will be inserted in a vending machine which machine employs a small magnet for sorting out slugs of substantial iron or steel content to prevent said slugs from reaching the vending mechanism, Sometimes a slug may also consist of an iron or steel center and a peripheral hoop oi. lead, zinc, or other likemetal which, if permitted to pass the small magnet without being affected thereby, will usually cause such a slug to clog the mechanism and render the machine inoperative. We have also found that bent coins, sticky or wet coins, and oversize slugs will also tend to clog the mechanism. It will be understood that whatever tends to render the machine inoperative is a serious detriment, as such machine has to be serviced by someone having means or access to the working parts of said machine in order to remove any clogging coin or slug, and such period of inoperativeness is objectionable to the person in whose establishment said vending machine has been located, and whoparticipates in a division of the intake of said machine.

It has also been our experience with such machines that in order deliberately to clog the vending machine a normally good coin will be drilled transversely and a small insert of steel or iron securely tted into the hole thus drilled. Such a mutilated coin so prepared will pass the ordinary selective devices, including the small magnet, contained in said machine, if said magnet is prsented edgewise to said coin, and when it reaches the rather powerful second magnet it will be gripped thereby, due to the steel or iron insert, and thus be retained in the chute through which it is progressing toward the vending operating mechanism, thus eifectually blocking the mechanism and rendering the machine inoperative. In order to circumvent the intended effect of such a prepared coin, we have located a small magnet near the inlet opening through which coins are inserted into the vending machine, which magnet operates upon a side face of the coin, and by virtue of the magnetic attraction of such magnet for the steel or iron insert in the coin, such coin is slowed down sumciently to cause it to be automatically vdischarged from the mechanism at a point more or less above and away from the vending mechanism.

In a part-of our device oversize, bent, or sticky coins or slugs are discharged from the machine without clogging the same by the insertion of a coin through the coin-receiving slot in the machine, or such operation can be manually performed if so desired. The cycle of operation ot' this part of the mechanism is completed and the parts-returned to their normal positions out of the path ot travel of the coin immediately following the insertion of said coin through the coinreceiving slot.

In our device we have produced a very simple and compact coin-selective mechanism having relatively few parts and therefore beingcheaper to manufacture and service. Vending machines to which our invention relates are those operable by the usual five-cent piece of. United States coin money, generally termed a "nickel coin.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our coin selector device with the upper 'part only of a vending machine casing in cross-section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, with the diameter plate of the scavenger device and slug, or imperfect coin, discharge chute therebeneath removed from th device.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation taken from the side opposite that shown in Figs. l and-2.

F18. 5 is a detail end view of the elements of the scavenger device in closed position.

Fig. 6 is a detail end view similar to Fig. 5, with the elements of the scavenger device in open or coinor slug-discharging position.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation or the scavenger device showing the same in open or coinor slugdischarging position caused by the insertion of a coin inthe coin-receiving slot in the vending machine. A

A plate Il is mounted within the vending machine casing A, upon which plate are mounted the elements comprising our selective device. Near the upper end of the outer wall of the casing A is a coin slot B, which is adapted to partly receive the slotted member I I provided with a slot I2 through which a coin C is adapted to be inserted into the machine. Such member Il is attached tothe plate I0' by means of the screws Il which pass through an arm Il integral with the member Il and are screwed into the plate III.

Hingedly secured to the plate Il is a member or plate I and which is provided with two apertured ears I5 which abut against two apertured lugs I1 on the plate I0, so that the apertures in said ears I5 and said lugs I1 register for the purpose of receiving the pin I8 which secures said plate I5 to the plate I5. A coil spring I9 surrounds this pin IB with one free end 2li impinging against the plate I0, while the other tree end 2l impinges against the outer wall or face of the plate I5 (see Figs. 1 and 7). The spring I9 normally holds the plate I5 in retracted position, as shown most clearly in Figs. l and 3.

Near the lower end of the plate I5 and on the inner face thereof is mounted a vertically adjustable, elongated track 22, by means of the two screws 23 which pass through slots 2l in said plate I5 (see Figs. l and 7). This track 22 is lnclined downwardly from its forward end to its rear `end, and serves the function of a track for incoming coins to direct same toward the chute for receiving a coin which, when genuine, will at the proper point in its travel through the mechanism be in position to operate the vending mechanism. The lower inner face of the plate I5 is separated from the inner face oi' the plate I0 Just enough to provide clearance for a normal coin (preferably a nickel), so that said coin may roll along the downwardly inclined elongated track 22 to reach the proper chute, where, at the proper time, it may be in positiony to operate the vending mechanism.

The forward portion of the plate I5 extends to within a short distance of the inner face of the front oi' the casing A. The upper projection 25 of the plate Iifproiects between two rollers,

presently to be described. adjacent the coin-receiving slotted member II. This projection 25 serves to receive the coin as it passes through the coin slot I2 in themember I I, so that said coin may drop onto the downwardly inclined, elongated track 22, and it a genuine coin it may progress on through the vending operating mechanism ofthe machine.

On the outer edge of the plate I5 somewhat above the median line thereof a roller 25 is mounted by means of a screw 21 passing longitudinally thereof and into the side edge oi said plate I5. The purpose of such roller will behereinafter described.

Pivoted to the inner face of the plate IU is a scavenger blade 25 held in position by the screw 29. A coil spring 35 fastened to the blade 25 through the opening 3| and to the plate III throughthe opening 32 holds said blade 25 in its uppermost. retracted position, as shown particularly in Figs. i and 2. The upper movement of said blade 25 is stopped by the proiection 3l on the plate I5 (see Fig. 2). A notch 34 is provided in the upper side of the blade 25 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The scavenizer blade 25 moves in its lowermost position in the space between the plate I5 and the plate I5 to strike any clogged coin caught at this point.

To operate the plate i5 and the scavenger blade :25, we provide a rocker member 35 having a short arm 35 projecting forwardly and a longer arm 31 proiecting rearwardly and pivoted at the juncture of said arms to the plate I5 by the screw 55. In order to permit' of a manual operation of this rocker member 35, another upwardly projecting arm 39k is provided to which is attached at 39' a push rod Iii projectingA through the vending machine casing A just above the coin slot B. At the forward end of the Short arm l5 0I the mechanism (not shown) rocker member I5 is a vertically movable roller II held in position thereon by the screw I2. This roller 4I projects across the coin slot I2 in the member II. Beneath this roller II is another roller 42 secured to the plate I5 by the screw Il, which last-named roller remains in a xed position on said plate III. These two rollers II and are separated from each other vertically a 1space less than the diameter of a iive cent co n.

The insertion of a coin through the coin slot I2 to produce the upward movement .of the roller II rocks the rocker member 35 about-its pivot screw 38. At the outer end of the longer arm 31 of the rocker member 35 is a cam member 45 having a relatively straight lower edge l5 adapted to engage the scavenger blade 25 in the notch when contact with said blade 28 is made by the downward movement of the longer arm 31 of the rocker member 35. Another cam face l1 of angular shape is on the cam member 45 and is adapted to contact the roller Av25 on the plate I5. 'I'he lower angular portion of said cam face 41 ilrst strikes against the roller 25 after which the upper angular portion moves into engagement with said roller 25. The plate I5 is first moved outwardly before the lower end 45 of the cam member 45 contacts the scavenger blade 28 for downward movement thereof. At the upper portion' of the cam member 45 a coil spring 48 is secured at one end, while the opposite end of said spring is secured to the plate I0. The purpose of the spring I5 is to hold the rocker member 35 in its uppermost position. The cam member I5 projects through an opening 49 in the plate Ill and the upward movement of said cam member is stopped when the 'upper edge of said member l5 contacts against the inner upper edge of said opening 45.

In addition to the plate III, we provide another plate 50 which is spaced from said plate Ill a sunicient distance to provide a passageway for a normal coin, so that it may, reach and pass through the chute 5I to operate the vending The space between the plate 5l and the plate III is traversed by the scavenger blade 2l.

Beneath the plate I5 is another plata 52 secured to the plate III by the screws 53 to form a chute for the discharge of a coin or slug which was clogging the regular chute prior to its discharge from the machine. The lower endo! such discharge chute permits the discharge of such undesired coin from the vending machine without its passing through the vending mechanism.

When a coin is introduced into the vending machine through the coin slots B and I2 it first contacts with the rollers II and 43 immediately adjacent such coin slots. This causes the roller II to be moved vertically, thus raising the arm 25 of the rocker member l5 and depressing the arm l1 of said member. This downward movement of the arm 31 carries the cam member l5 at the outer end oi' said arm 31 downwardly also, and as the inclined edge I1 on said member l5 always is in contact with the roller 25 on the outer edge oi' the plate I5, such downward movement of said cam member forces the plate I5 outwardly and away from` the plate III. As the cam member continues to move downwardly the lower edge I5 strikes against the upper edge oi' the scavenger blade 28 at the notched portion 3| thereof. the cam member 45 forces the scavenger blade The further downward movement of.

28 downwardly, which causes it to sweep through the space between the plate and the plate III and the plate I5, thereby dislodging any coin that may be lodged in such space and causing said coin to be ejected from the machine through the discharge chute provided by the plate I0 and the plate 52. l

Assoon as the coin has passed`between the rollers 4I and 43, the parts just described are immediately returned to their normal retracted positions by the springs I9, 30, and A8, respectively.

If the coin be of normal size it rst strikes a small abutment 54 in the path of travel of said coin between the plate IU and the plate I5, and is deflected forwardly against the member 55 on the plate IIJ at the forward edge thereof, which in turn deects said coin downwardly, rearwardly, and toward the elongated track 22 assisted by the plate 5I) attached to the plate I0 by the screws 56. 'I'he lower end of this plate 50 has a forward, iiared end 59 which serves to direct said coin onto the track 22 on the plate I5. The scavenger blade 28 moves vertically in the space between the plate i III and the plate 50.

A small magnet 5B is secured to the plate Ill and serves to retard the progress of a coin or slug having therein some material capable of being iniluenced by a magnet, such as iron or steel. This retardation causes the coin or slug to travel a path which causes it to be rejected by and discharged from the machine.

In order to insure that a bent or oversize coin or slug will properly enter the discharge chute 52, we provide a plate 6I] secured to the plate III. The plate 60 is provided at its upper end with the outturned lip 6I, against which said coin may strike to cause it to enter the chute 52. The plate 60 is secured to the plate I0 by the screws 62.

A normal `five-cent piece rolling down the track 22 strikes against the forward, knife-edged portion 63 of the abutment' Lv (see Fig. 2) This causes the coin to rebound and enter the chute 64 after striking the abutment M. 'I'he `coin then strikes the upwardly extending plate 65 and is directed'into the chute 66, through which it passes between the pole pieces 61 of the large magnet O. As the normal coin discharges from the chute 66 it passes over the abutment N and continues through the chute 5I to the vending operating mechanism of the machine.

A spurious coin D, formed of iron or steel, passing into the machine will be slowed down by the small magnet 58 so that when the next coin is inserted in the coin slot I2 the steel or iron slug will be discharged from the machine by the scavenger blade 28, operating as hereinbefore described. Ii the spurious coin be formed of type metal, when it strikes the knife edge portion 63 of the abutment L the softness of the metal will cause an imperceptible penetration of said knife edge into the metal, l thereby slowing the coin down suiliciently so that said coin will strike on the 'right-hand side of the abutment M, as shown in Fig. 2. This will cause a discharge of said type metal coin similar to that just heretofore described.

If the spurious coin be formed of a genuine coin with a hole drilled therein into which is inserted a steel or iron piece, the small magnet 5B will retard the onward movement of said coin suillciently so as to cause said mutilated coin either to be discharged by the scavenger device heretofore described, or to proceed as heretofore described byl either missing the abutment L altogether, or if striking the same, not hitting with suilicient force to cause the coin to rebound so that it will pass over the abutment M in order to enter the chute 64. This mutilated coin, if not discharged by the scavenger device, will strike the abutment M on the right thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, rebound against the member 68, and pass to the left of the abutment N to direct it into the discharge apparatus of the machine.

lIf the coin contain copper or bronze it will, when of normal size, not be subject to retardation by the small magnet 58, but it will strike the abutment L, bounce back, and strike the abutment M on the left side thereof, causing said coin to enter the chute 64, strike the member 65, and enter chute 66, where it will be caused to pass between the pole pieces 61 of the large magnet O. The operation of this large magnet will retard the progress of such a coin containing copper or bronze sufficiently to cause said coin to drop from the discharge end of the chute 66 and strike the abutment N on the left thereof,and bedeflected thereby into the discharge mechanism of the vending machine.

We provide adjustment devices 69 and 'IIl for the abutments L and N which are adapted to operate in slots 'II and 12 in the plate I0. By this means these abutments may be very accurately adjusted so as to operate with a high degree of efficiency.

We claim:

1. A scavenger device for coin-operated mechanisms, comprising a stationary plate, a movable plate having a lower coin `runway, said movable plate being mounted on said stationary plate and forming therewith a coin raceway, a magnet mounted on said stationary plate above said coin runway on said movable plate and having its poles arranged to create a magnetic eld across said coin path so that disks containing magnetic material will be attracted and held within said magnetic eld, a movable blade mounted on said stationary plate and arranged to move across said r magnetic field when said movable plate is operated and thereby remove any object lodged Within said magnetic field, means for successively operating said movable plate and movable blade, and means for restoring them to their normal, retracted positions.

2. A scavenger device for coin-operated mechanisms, comprising a casing having a coin-receiving slot, a stationary plate secured within said casing, a rocker arm pivoted to said plate and means for operating said rocker arm, a member on one end of said rocker arm, a cam member on the opposite end of said rocker arm, a movable plate having a coin runway, said movable plate being mounted on said stationary plate and forming therewith a coin runway, a magnet mounted on said stationaryA plate and having its poles arranged to create a magnetic field across said coin path so that disks containing magnetic material will be attracted and held within said magnetic field, a movable blade mounted on said stationary plate and arranged to move across said magnetic eld, means consisting of said cam member for successively operating said movable plate and movable blade thereby removing any object lodged between said plates and magnetic ield, and means for restoring them to their normal, retracted positions. v

3. A scavenger device for coin-operated mechanisms comprising a casing having a coin-receiving slot, a coin chute associated with said coinreceivingslot, a stationary plate secured within said casing, a rocker arm pivoted to said stationary plate, a1member on one end ot said rocker arm, means i'or operating said rocker arm, a cam member on the opposite end of said rocker arm, a movable plate mounted on said stationary plate and forming with said stationary plate said coin chute, a magnet mounted on said stationary plate and arranged so that disks containing magnetic material will be attracted and held within the magnetic field created by said magnet while said disks are in said coin chute, a movable blade mounted on said stationary plate and arranged to move between said movable plate and said stationary plate when said movable plate is operated and thereby remove any object lodged between said plates, said'movable plate and said movable blade being operated in succession by said cam member when said rocker arm is operated, and means for restoring the rocker arm, movable plate, 'and movable blade to their normal, retracted positions.

4. A scavenger device for coin-operated mechanisms, comprising a casing having a coin-receiving slot, a coin chute associated with said coin-receiving slot. a stationary plate secured Within said casing, a movable plate mounted on said stationary plate and forming with said stationary plate said coin chute, a magnet mounted on said stationary plate and arranged so that disks containing magnetic material will be attracted and held within the magnetic field created by said magnet While said disks are in said coin chute, a movable blade mounted on said stationary plate and arranged to move between said movable plate and said stationary plate when said movable plate is operated and thereby remove any object lodgedbetween said plates, means for operating said movable plate and said movable blade in succession, and means for restoring the movable plate, movable blade, and the operating means therefor to their normal, re-

- tracted positions. i

5. A scavenger device for coin-operated mechanisms, comprising a casing having a coin-receiving slot, a stationary plate secured within saidv casing, a rocker arm pivoted to said plate, a member on' one end o! said rocker arm for operating said arm when engaged by a coin inserted movable blade being operated in succession by said cam when said rocker arm is operated, and

means for restoring the rocker arm, movable plate, and movable blade to their normal, re tracted positions after a coin has been passed through said coin-receiving slot.

6, A scavenger device for coin-operated mechanisms, comprising a stationary plate, a movable plate, a lower coin runway mounted on said movable plate and, together with said movable and stationary plates, forming a coin raceway, a magnet mounted on said stationary plate above said coin runway and having its poles arranged to create a'magnetc field across said coin raceway so that discs containing magnetic material will be attracted to and held within said magnetic field, a movable blade mounted on said stationary plate and arranged to move across said magnetic field and thereby remove any object lodged within said magnetic field, actuating means for said movable plate and said movable blade comprising an arm pivoted on the other side of said stationary plate from said movable plate, means for actuating said arm, said stationary plate having an opening therethrough near the end of said arm, and a projection on said arm extending through said opening and having portions engaging both said movable plate and said movable blade, said projection portions, upon actuation of said arm, engaging said movable plate to move it away from said stationary plate, thereby opening said raceway' 

